The Ice Queen - Ch. 16 "Comfort" (Patreon)

Cassian

Fate is cruel. And if you deviate from its plan in the slightest, it will punish you in unimaginable ways as it did to Neytiri and me. I silently look down at her sleeping form in my arms as we make our way back to the villa. We haven’t been to the villa in days. She enjoys the old way of life much more than the luxury I’ve tried to provide to her.

Her revelation at the campsite is one that brings chills to my flesh. We were connected from the very beginning without knowing it. The day of the ball is when my father tried to speak to me about the marriage. He did on more than one occasion, and when I left the ballroom to put Aurora to sleep, he said he needed to discuss something with me when I returned. After all this time I finally know that it was the union between Neytiri and me.

At the time my heart was set on Hynden, but I would have married Neytiri for the sake of peace and my people. My father saw something in a marriage that I did not. And now the thoughts plague me of what could have been had we followed through with our duties. Unfortunately, Neytiri’s people opposed fate, specifically her brothers. And as such, they were punished cruelly for it. But I see things much more clearly now. We must make this work between us, and I must honor my father’s last wish as king. I will make this work no matter what.

I take note that the lights are on in the villa. Only a few people have access, but as I make my way up the stairs, it doesn’t take me long to sense who it is. Caius opens the door. He bows slightly as I pass, making my way to Neytiri’s room. I sent him to the mainland weeks ago on business. But since he is here physically, I know the news can’t be good.

Neytiri doesn’t stir as I lay her in the bed. She’s probably exhausted from not only overexerting her power but from crying. Her breathing is deep and her skin warm meaning she is no longer internalizing her temperature. I inhale a deep breath, gently rubbing my knuckles against her cheek. Our fates were intertwined from the moment she was born. Crossbreeding is something that wasn’t heard of among the Ancients. But my father was a wise ruler. I trust his judgment. And for some reason, her father did as well.

I smile as I study her.

“How much different our lives would have been if we weren’t set on this path.”

After a while, I force myself to leave her side and face whatever news Caius has brought back for me. I make my way to my office where Caius is waiting. Once again, he bows as I pass and I take a seat.

“What do you have for me?”

Just as I suspected, Caius hesitates slightly before taking a deep breath.

“Most of the doctors that left the island have returned to normal lives.”

I immediately notice his use of the word “most”.

“The doctor she killed was sending information to an encrypted account on the mainland.”

Anger rips through me and I smash my hands down on the desk, standing.

“What!” I hiss.

Caius takes a step back watching me carefully. Before he was Neytiri’s, he was my Xindrite and right-hand man. He is familiar with my temper.

“I went through his personal belongings and was able to locate the computer. Unfortunately, someone else had access to it. Someone that has downloaded all of the data. I currently have my team tracing the digital trail, but whoever this is came to the island with the intention of stealing information. They were very prepared.”

“Fuck,” I murmur looking out the window. I inhale slowly, trying to calm myself but it feels mundane.

Someone very important has access to information which is bad for us. My gaze shifts to my calendar on the wall.

“I have a press conference next week and a meeting with potential clients on the mainland. I’ll use my sources there to track them down.”

My skin slowly takes on the burn of my rising anger.

“Cassian, don’t get worked up. Just let us handle this. You can’t risk exposing yourself, especially now that Neytiri has awakened.”

I bite the inside of my cheek in irritation, leaning back in my seat.

“Fine,” I growl.

This isn’t good. For centuries I’ve worked hard to keep everything about us and this island hidden from the world. And now, the peace I have provided our people is on the line. I should have followed my instincts and killed the humans after everything went to shit.

“Cassian, are you okay?”

Caius’s words penetrate the haze of pent-up frustration, and I narrow my gaze.

“As if you care,” I snap.

Caius breaks my gaze for a moment before looking back at me.

“Cassian I still serve you. I care what-”

“Don’t. Don’t do that, Caius.”

Silence washes over us and the frustration I’ve kept down for years finally bubbles over as I stand.

“You betrayed me. You took my wife out from under me and my men. And you turned your own against one another. So do not sit there, and act as if you care. Everything you’ve done has been to ensure her safety, not mine.”

I whip away from Caius as my resentment rises to the surface. There’s so much I want to say but I cannot. I am a king, and he made his decision long ago. If he hadn’t chosen the woman I married, I would have killed him long ago for treason.

“Cassian-”

“Get out.”

Silence washes over the room, but Caius finally stands to leave. Once the door is closed, I let out a roar bringing my fist down. The table shatters into splinters, the papers catching fire instantly before evaporating.

I glare at the aftermath.

“Fuck.”

* * * * * 

Neytiri

Technology is fascinating.

The shower continues to spew warm water down on me at a constant temperature. During my time period, boiling water was how you had to take a warm bath. But now, warm water is literally at your fingertips.

Once I’m pleased with myself, I step out of the glass shower, making my way to the connecting bedroom. As I walk, I pass by a mirror. My footsteps stall and I take a step back to better study myself. Though I look inherently the same on the outside, I also look different. My eyes are brighter, and my body gives off more confidence. I seem at peace.

I angle my head slightly, and my reflection does the same thing, smiling at me as she does the action. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but it seems that being on this island was actually good for me and my power in the long run. Cassian allows me to use it freely, and I haven’t had any slip-ups yet. I turn away from the mirror eyeing the steam in the room.

A chill ripples over my body and up my spine as I focus on the water in the air. I release my power, and to my excitement, the steam dissipates into an icy fog. I smile softly. I was always coddled as a child and seen as the weakest among my siblings. I wish they could see me now.

I am glad Cassian and I finally discussed the history between us. It felt like it was building into something dangerous before, but now it has opened a new path for us. Especially now that we both understand what was at play the entire time.

Once I’m dressed, I make my way down the steps into the kitchen. I sense a familiar presence as I round the corner to see Caius sitting at the island with a cup in his hands.

“Caius?”

Excitement sweeps over me as I take him in. He seems distracted before finally facing me, a smile forming on his lips as I pull him into an embrace. I squeeze him tight, enjoying the feel of him, meaning he is actually here. I’ve pushed him from my mind in the past weeks, hoping to separate myself from the crushing dependence I seemed to have manifested upon him. But I missed him a lot.

Caius gently pulls me off of him giving me a soft smile as he pushes a stray hair out of my face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“I came to update Cassian on the project he assigned me.”

I nod my head stepping around Caius to take a seat. I briefly recall him explaining he had work on the mainland that Cassian sent him to do. I also remember Cassian’s expression the day Caius left. But I push it from my mind, wanting to keep myself calm.

“Have you?” I ask.

Caius nods taking his seat across from me.

“I spoke with him last night.”

Last night I fell asleep by the fire. I assumed when I awoke in the bed this morning Cassian brought me back. I wonder if Caius saw us, but I keep that to myself as well.

“So you work for the company as well? Officially?” I ask earning a smile from Caius.

“I guess officially you would call me his Executive Assistant on paper.”

I smile, happy that I understand what it is he’s explaining to me. A few months ago I would have been completely in the dark, both words foreign to me. But I am growing and learning this new world.

Caius watches me silently for a moment before speaking.

“I assume your time on the island has been pleasant enough?” he asks.

I laugh softly looking out the glass wall that offers a view of the ocean.

“At first it was unbearable. But I think I’m beginning to understand now. Now, I love this place. It holds good memories and potential.”

“I know upon awakening things were scary and it was a lot for you. I hope you know bringing you here was only in your best interest, on both sides. It was for your safety and everyone else’s on Brineau.”

I scoff meeting Caius’s blue gaze.

“Now you sound like Cassian.”

Caius laughs pulling my attention. His gaze is focused on the liquid in the mug in his hands.

“That’s because he also wants what’s best for you. We all just want you to be prepared when you step into the role of queen. It’s what we all need.”

I study him intensely, his words catching my attention. There’s sadness lurking in his deep blue gaze. I’ve never questioned Caius’s loyalty. At his core, I know he has a good heart. But as I study him I can see that his good nature is torturing him. Living life between the two of us must be torture for him.

“Caius, how are you really?”

His expression shifts to one of shock but he quickly recovers with a smile.

“I’m fine-”

“Don’t lie to me.”

His expression softens from my tone. I don’t have to threaten him. It is Ancient law that he’s forbidden to lie to me. If I were cruel like Cassian, I would reach into his mind and control him now that he is my Xindrite. But I would never do that. I could never, especially after knowing him like this. So, I hold his gaze, silently pleading that he be honest with me.

I reach across the counter, placing my hand over his.

“Please, Caius.”

His eyes widen slightly and I watch heavily as his facade crumbles. His shoulders drop slightly and his head lowers as sadness creeps through him, taking him over.

“I feel… torn.”

Caius keeps his eyes down as he speaks.

“It kills me seeing him so broken and angry. He was my best friend for years. We were raised together, we fought together.”

I recall Cassian’s words only last night. Caius protected him while he broke into the ballroom to save their people.

“He holds so much resentment for me in his heart for my betrayal. Every time he looks at me I see disgust in his eyes at the physical reminder of me breaking my oath to him and swearing it to you. He won’t even let me talk about it or try and fix what’s broken between us.”

My chest squeezes from his words. It never occurred to me the pain Caius may be feeling because of his actions.

“I am partially to blame for your death. Cassian took his rage toward me out on you. I took what little he had left. And the only reason he has it back now is because of you. Because you are our common interest. I pushed my king deeper into the hole he was standing over.”

“I had no idea you felt this way,” I murmur softly. I can feel his pain as if it were my own.

Caius laughs bitterly looking at his hands.

“I knew the consequences of my actions. I just thought the memories of our past would eventually go away. I thought I would be able to stay angry and forget. But you survived and I’ve been by his side for years like I once was.”

Caius looks up, his gaze meeting mine.

“I worry about him. About the struggle in his head, he insists on fighting alone. And he won’t speak to anyone. He won’t…”

Caius trails off, dropping his head once again.

“I fear for my friend.”

My eyes widen at his admission. I don’t know if he meant to say it aloud. And now, I feel even heavier guilt eating away at me.

“Caius, I-”

“I knew I heard voices in here.”

I tense, lifting my gaze to see Cassian entering the kitchen. His appearance throws me for a second, as he’s dressed in a dark blue three-piece suit that adds to his air of intimidation immensely. Caius rises, bowing next to me as Cassian walks by and when he rises, I see exactly what it is Caius was talking about only seconds ago. It’s brief but obvious.

Bitter hatred flashes in Cassian’s gaze as he takes Caius in before covering it up swiftly, his gaze meeting mine. His dimple shines through as he smiles at me.

“Have you eaten?”

I slowly shake my head just as Caius moves to take his leave and I turn without thinking.

“Are you leaving?” I ask.

I immediately notice the hesitation as his gaze flits to Cassian before settling back on me.

“I will be around the villa. I’ll leave the two of you.”